Double Ride Across the Andes south of Mendoza. Argentina-Chile

A unique experience, on horseback, through the mountains of southern Mendoza

Start Date :

date_range15-12-2018

Meeting Point:

Malargue, Mendoza

Start Date:

date_range21-12-2018

Location:

cuyo

Modality:

Cabalgata

Distance:

1400 km from Buenos Aires city

Double crossing of the Andes on horseback, an extraordinary adventure

A mountain expedition, is not exclusive for hikers or climbers. Horseback riding crossing the Andes range, is an experience that usually remains in our memory for a long time. Large valleys covered with intense greens, crossing the border of our neighbour country Chile, paths covered with sand and patches of snow, the waterfalls... A great amount of reasons to explain an adventure made for everyone. We begin and end in Malargüe city.

Confirmed dates Season 2014-2015

Double Crossing of the Andes (Arg-Chile) : 7 days

-December 28 th to January 3 rd

-January 4th to 10th

-January 18th to 24th

-January 25th to 31st

-February 8th to 14th

- February 15th to 21 st

-February 22 nd to 28 th

-March 8 th to 14 th

Andes Valley: 4 days

-December 6 th to 9 th

-March 14 th to 17 th

-April 2 nd to 5 th

For more information: www.cabalgandolosandes.com.ar

Modality:

Horseback Riding for several days. Mules, muleteers and experienced personnel included. Spending overnights in tents or occasionally in shelters

Itinerary:

Trip: We can issue the bus ticket if needed. The cost of this ticket is off-budget.

Day 1(Sunday)-Argentina: Meeting in Malargüe. Lunch, preparation, brief talk and equipment checking. Transfer by charter on route 40 going south. Here we will start to recognize the geography of the adventure that is about to begin. We will go through Manqui-Malal, Bardas Blancas and enter over the Río Grande Valley to Las Loicas, the place where our great adventure begins. After a snack we start with the technical explanation. First section of the ride takes around 3 hours towards our first camping set up. Puesto Villarino. Dinner and overnight.

Days 2(Monday)-Argentina: Breakfast. From Puesto Villarino we head to the hot springs of Cajon Grande where we will have lunch and enjoy some unforgettable outdoor thermal baths. We will continue to Cajon del Rezago through valleys and stunning views. Where we will have dinner and stay overnight.

Day 3(Tuesday) -Argentina: Breakfast. We will be heading south by passes until the staging post of Sepulveda where we will have lunch and we will continue the journey towards Laguna Baya. Camp set up and relax time. Dinner and overnight.

Day 4(Wednesday) -Chile: Breakfast. The road now leads us to the border with Chile. We wil go up through new valleys and we will finally arrive to the border landmark with Chile. Pictures and celebration of achievement. Crossing to Chile and lunch. Arrival to a beautiful lagoon with amazing landscapes and we finally get to Laguna Negra . Camp set up and relax time. Dinner and overnight.

Day 5(Thursday) -Argentina: Breakfast. . A hard ride day but wonderful in landscapes. We will head through Cajon Las Pomas to Panculehue cascade, an imposing and wonderful water fall. Lunch. Then we will go from east to west across the pampas to the drawer of Huanuco, where we set up a new camp. Dinner and overnight. Last night on the mountain.

Day 6(Friday) -Argentina: Breakfast. Last stretch riding through Pehuenche passage (3 hour-ride). Our private charter will be waiting for us. Photos and we will start the return. Going through Las Loicas once again to finally arrive to the 4 star- hotel. Farewell dinner remembering the experience. Overnight.

assignmentNote:

Note 1: All horses are properly trained and prepared to ride in the mountain and our local guides have the best conditions and local knowledge. It is not necessary to have previous experience.

Note 2: Active program with middle-grade difficulty suitable for all ages. There are steep ascents and descents but there are no places with significant risk. Modifications may occur.

Note 3: Program subjected to changes depending on weather, geographical or political conditions. Decisions on changes will be taken exclusively by the guides, mountain guides and coordinators.

FAQs:

- Is the ride long during the day?

The ride is quiet and easy. The first day we ride only for two hours. Then we increase the frequency, but is always around 2-3hs in the morning and the same in the afternoon.

- Do I need previous horseback riding experience?

Definitely not. The horses are ready to receive people who have never ridden and the learning process is significantly fast. The mode of riding is quiet, one horse after the other

.

- What happnes if I have riding experience?

Those with experience will also be able to gallop and / or jogging depending on the terrain.

- Where do we spend the night?

Since we ride on a virgin natural place, where no road vehicle arrives, the overnights are in igloo tents, comfortable for 2/3 or 4 people. Those who wish may also sleep outside (vivac) with their own sleeping bag under an unforgettable blanket of stars...

- What if someone needs to be evacuated for some reason?

Almost all camps have escape routes near valleys, to get to the road vehicle route in a few hours. Our local guides are trained to resolve issues of first aid and / or evacuations, but they are actually very rare.

- Is there cell phone signal?

No. Cell phones in this area end up becoming useless items. Only in the city of Malargue, at the beginning and at the end of our adventure.

- Should I bring a suitcase, a small bag, a large backpack?

Everyone should bring their personal baggage in a bag or large backpack to Malargue. There, we separate things in special bags that will be share between passengers and also we give everyone a pannier bags (small bag to hang on the saddle)where you will keep the items you use every day.

- What do we eat?

Our menus are varied. From pasta with different sauces to stews or meat (Argentinean goat roasted). Appetizers, salads and quick meals for easy digestion are common in midday. We ask you to complete the personal/medical profile to state if you eat any special type of food.

speaker_notesIncluded Services:

- Transfer from Malargue city in private charter.

- Full meals in the mountain (from lunch on Day 1 to breakfast Day 7)

- 5 nights accommodation in tent camp in the mountain range.

- 1 night accommodation in 4-star Hotel, in Malargue city.

-Farewell dinner at a restaurant with a non alcoholic drink included

- Guides, coordinators and local guides,

- Horses equipped and properly prepared for this kind of mountain expeditions.